Looking to spice up your current living space? Forget the matchy-matchy look you found in a magazine. Decorating a room with different colors, textures, patterns and furniture styles is both fashionable and fresh. The great thing about this trend is that you don’t have to look far, or stretch your wallet, to make it happen. However, mixing antique, modern and traditional design can be tricky. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Vintage Photo Frames: The original purpose of a picture frame was to protect a photograph, but often the frame can actually be more fascinating than the photo itself. Mixing new and old frames creates depth and versatility in a wall display. I have been collecting vintage photos of my grandparents from the 1940s and recently decided to give my hallway a face lift. I tried the idea of mixing black and white vintage photos with present day color photos in the new and vintage frames and was presently surprised. Most of frames you see here are vintage sprayed with silver paint. A great place to find cheap frames is at your local thrift store.

Repurpose Family Furniture: Look for furniture pieces from your family that hold a story. I was fortunate to inherit a few treasures from my grandparents. One of my favorites is a set of three rustic wooden shelves that were hand made by local artisans in Mexico City, where my Grandfather served in the Air Force in 1959. As a child, I have fond memories of these shelves in their home as a part of their entertaining area. They are a statement piece that is truly one of a kind.

Mixing Modern and Classic: First, consider the size of your space and then look at the items you already have. It’s a good idea to keep your larger items, like your couch or comforter,  to simple, soothing colors. From there you can choose different accent pieces, like pillows, shelves, antiques, side tables and art work, that will mesh well in the surrounding areas. For example, I have a very modern mirror and lamp paired with vintage European magazine covers that were also passed down to me from my Grandmother. Including memorabilia and nostalgic items creates a sense of peace and tranquility in any space.

Do you like mixing new and vintage pieces in your apartment?

This is a guest post from Kristin Stowers. Kristin is an Associate Account Executive for the National Media Sales team at Apartments.com. Kristin has always had a love for Interior Design and photography however; her first love is for her jewelry line Stella Kay.